Plant-Based Protein Shipments Climb

Case shipments of plant-based proteins from broadline distributors to foodservice operators climbed 20 percent last year, compared with the year before, as consumers seek out both protein and perceived “better for you” options, NPD Group said. All regions of the country saw double-digit growth in the year ended November 2018, with the West representing the most plant-based volume and case shipment growth, followed closely by the South, according to NPD. About a quarter of the U.S. population, many of whom aren’t vegan or vegetarian, say they consume plant-based beverages and foods as well as animal protein on a regular basis, the firm said. Among the reasons plant-based proteins have moved into the mainstream are that consumers have concerns about animal welfare, and they want to know how products are brought to market. Burger substitutes represent the largest plant-based foodservice category and have seen year-over-year double-digit growth in pounds shipped to operators, NPD said. The group’s receipt mining service shows that smaller, more affluent households earnings $100,000 and up are the top buyers of plant-based burgers. “Plant-based proteins are no longer just a meat replacement, it’s now its own category,” David Portalatin, NPD food industry adviser, said in a press release. “It’s possible that protein overall is evolving into a category, whether animal meat, beans, nuts, soy, wild game or other proteins, in forms ranging from beverage to center of plate.”